France and Italy, May 2008.

Weymouth, Dorset, to Blois, France.

After a cold night in the camper in Weymouth we sailed via Condor Ferries to St Malo in Brittany, then to a Campanile in Le Mans. Next day to Blois.

Blois, on the Loire, SW of Orleans.

Then SE through Clermont-Ferrand to Roanne. Another Campanile.

30/04/08.

Roanne, Lyon, Grenoble, Gap, Sisteron, then E to Digne-les-Bains.

Roanne

Roanne

Roanne

Roanne

01/05/08

Digne-les-Bains, Nice, Menton, [Italy] San Remo, Genoa, La Spezia, Porto Venere.

At Digne-les-Bains we stayed in a scruffy private hotel, but had a great meal (dinard and steak). The following morning we drove just outside the town and had breakfast by the river.

Breakfast at Digne-les-Bains.

Breakfast at Digne-les-Bains.

Then we drove down the N85, very Alpine scenery, to Nice, then along the corniche, past Monaco, to Menton where we stopped for lunch.

N of Nice.

Nice.

Then into Italy. At San Remo, because traffic was very slow, we got onto the motorway to Genoa and La Spezia. By now it was almost dark so we went to Porto Venere, in the hope of finding a hotel. Very crowded, cars parked everywhere. Ended up in a trailer park. Walked into town, desparate for a beer. Had some take-away food, I think.

02/05/08

Porto Venere, Lerici, Torre del Lago Puccini.

From Porto Venere we drove back along peninsular to La Spezia, then on down the coast to Lerici. Pleasant but very crowded, mostly locals as it was a Saturday, so we had to park at the top of the town and walk down to the sea. Big street market on the promenade.

Lerici

Lerici

Lerici

Then to Torre del Lago Puccini and a campsite.

03/05/08

Torre del Lago Puccini, Pisa.

Torre del Lago Puccini

Torre del Lago Puccini

Torre del Lago Puccini

Puccini's home, Torre del Lago Puccini

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

Pisa

04/05/08

Viareggio, Florence.

Viareggio

Viareggio

Campsite S of Florence

05/05/08

Florence.

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

Florence

06/05/08

Sienna.

Sienna

Sienna

Sienna

Sienna

Sienna

Archie in Sienna

Camping in Sovicille, SW of Sienna

07/05/08

Sienna to Po delta and Padua.

Vines near road from Sienna to Padua.

08/05/08

Padua to Lake Guarda.

Morning in Padua, but no photos (can't remember why), then north via Po delta and Venice lagoon to Lake Guarda and Lazise. Campsite by the lake.

09/05/08

Lake Guarda.

Sirmione, Lake Guarda

Sirmione, Lake Guarda

Sirmione, Lake Guarda

Pescharia, Lake Guarda

10/05/08

Verona.

Verona

Verona

Verona

Verona

Verona

Verona

Verona

Lazise, Lake Guarda

Lazise, Lake Guarda

Lazise, Lake Guarda

11/05/08

Lake Guarda to Baveno, Lake Maggiore.

Lunch by lake

Baveno, Lake Maggiore

Baveno, Lake Maggiore

12/05/08

Baveno, via Simplon, to Switzerland. Then back into France, along south side of Lac Leman, to Evian then campsite.

The Alps via Simplon

The Alps via Simplon

The Alps via Simplon

The Alps via Simplon

Camping near Evian

Camping near Evian

Camping near Evian

Camping near Evian

13/05/08 - 14/05/08

Geneva, CERN, Jura Mountains to Dijon and a Campanile.

No photos taken.

15/05/08

Dijon, Chatillion S/Seine, Moret Sur Loing.

Wandered around Dijon for a couple of hours, including rubbing "lucky frog" and exploring the food market. Then via Chatillion on the Seine and to Moret Sur Loing, and a nice, characterful hotel (Auberge de Terrace) overlooking the river. Savory Crepes in a restaurant down the road.